WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

PO BOX 347113, PARMA, OH 44134-7113

In care of

% DAVID VASARHELYI

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

DEREK C SCHAFER, 7381 CAMELOT DR, PARMA, OH 441347113

Signed the 990

DEREK C SCHAFER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Phone

(216) 749-3720

Website

WESTCREEK.ORG

Return prepared by

H & J CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS INC

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST OHIO BY CONSERVING NATURAL HABITATS, RESTORING THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF OUR REGION'S LANDS AND WATERS, AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT PEOPLE FROM ALL CULTURES TO EXPERIENCE NATURE AND DISCOVER OUR GREAT OUTDOORS.

Program accomplishments

• WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY'S ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND REGION IS UNIQUE, AS IT TAKES A COLLABORATIVE WATERSHED APPROACH TO LAND CONSERVATION, STREAM/WETLAND RESTORATION, AND TRAIL/GREENWAY DEVELOPMENT. NORTHEAST OHIO HAS A STORIED HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT AND HAS OFTEN BEEN A POSTER CHILD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS. WHERE A RIVER'S FIRES AND POLLUTION WERE ONCE NATIONAL FRONT-PAGE NEWS, WE NOW HAVE ONE OF THE MOST VISITED NATIONAL PARKS IN THE COUNTRY, A VAST NETWORK OF METROPARKS AND PARK DISTRICTS, A 100-MILE WATER TRAIL, A HANDFUL OF NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT 'SCENIC RIVERS', A REGIONALLY COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF WATERSHED GROUPS, ACTIVATION AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS ALONG MANY RIVERINE AND COASTAL AREAS, AND STORY AFTER STORY OF HABITAT AND WILDLIFE RECOVERY. EVEN WITH SUCH PROGRESS, WE STILL HAVE MUCH LEFT TO DO WEST CREEK IS A HYBRID LAND CONSERVATION AND WATERSHED-RESTORATION ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON MYRIAD ACTIVITIES: ACQUIRING LAND (INCLUDING HIGH QUALITY AND COMPLETELY DEGRADED AREAS); RESTORING ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONALITY (ENCOMPASSING STREAMS, WETLANDS, OPEN MEADOWS, FOREST LANDS, AS WELL AS BROWNFIELDS); RETROFITTING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (OFTEN REMOVING UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, RECLAIMING NATURAL AREAS, AND INSTALLING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER STORMWATER CONTROL MECHANISMS); BUILDING TRAIL/GREENWAY NETWORKS IN ORDER TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THESE SPECIAL PLACES; AND ENGAGING MUNICIPALITIES, STAKEHOLDERS, POLICY MAKERS, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE AND POLICY. THIS IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS A "HEADWATERS-TO-CONFLUENCE APPROACH." WEST CREEK REGULARLY FILLS A NICHE: HELPING PARTNERS ACQUIRE LAND, POSSIBLY ON AN INTERIM BASIS, AND SOMETIMES PRE-ACQUIRING BEFORE THE OPPORTUNITY IS LOST. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND OUR COLLABORATIVE APPROACH. ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST RECENT EXAMPLES IS A PROJECT REFERRED TO AS IRISHTOWN BEND - A MORE THAN 23 ACRE RECLAMATION INITIATIVE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALONG A HALF MILE OF THE CUYAHOGA RIVER, WHICH MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN 2024. WEST CREEK ORCHESTRATED A SERIES OF COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS TO GAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE AREA SO THAT ITS PARTNERS COULD ACCELERATE AND IMPLEMENT A TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE AND CRITICAL PROJECT. OUR ROLE HELPED CATALYZE A NEARLY 100M PROJECT THAT WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF THE RIVER AND PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED URBAN PARK, GREENSPACE, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES TO A DENSE URBAN COMMUNITY. WITH A SMALL STAFF, OUR WATERSHED AND CONSERVATION SERVICES STRETCH BEYOND A DOZEN COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST OHIO. EMPLOYING OUR PARTNERSHIP APPROACH, WE ARE ASSISTING RICHLAND COUNTY PARK DISTRICT, TO CREATE AND RESTORE A 100- ACRE AREA WITHIN CLEAR FORK RIVER, INCLUDING TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO NEARLY THREE MILES OF THE RIVER; ASSISTING SUMMIT METRO PARKS TO EXPAND CONSERVATION ALONG THE CUYAHOGA RIVER, ADDING ANOTHER 57 ACRES & 1-MILE OF RIVER UNDER THEIR STEWARDSHIP, AS WELL AS FACILITATING A 20-ACRE ADDITION TO THEIR NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED VALLEY VIEW BLUFFS PARK; ASSISTING CLEVELAND METROPARKS WITH EXPANDING BEDFORD AND BRECKSVILLE RESERVATIONS, WHILE DEVELOPING OVER 2 MILES OF THE WEST CREEK GREENWAY TO PROVIDE ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO THE OVER 40,000 PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN A 1-MILE RADIUS ; ASSISTING CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK WITH IN-HOLD PROPERTY CONSERVATION; ASSISTING THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (ODNR) WITH A NEARLY 200-ACRE EXPANSION OF THE FUNK BOTTOMS WILDLIFE AREA, AS WELL AS EXPANSION OF DUPONT STATE NATURE PRESERVE AND TINKER'S CREEK STATE PRESERVE; DRIVING AN INITIATIVE TO PRESERVE CRITICAL AREAS AROUND TALCOTT CREEK, A COLD-WATER STREAM OF THE GRAND RIVER WATERSHED; PROTECTING A 108-ACRE CRUCIAL SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER IN THE HEADWATERS OF THE CUYAHOGA RIVER; FURTHER EXPANDING THE CONSERVATION CORRIDOR IN FURNACE RUN/BALDWIN CREEK - A SECOND PHASE NOW TOTALING OVER 100-ACRES THAT STRADDLES BRECKSVILLE AND BROADVIEW HEIGHTS; ADDING 12 ACRES TO THE HIGHLAND HEIGHTS CITY PARK, WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY PROTECTED OVER 40 ACRES ADJACENT TO IT ALONG CRITICAL HEADWATER STREAMS AND WETLANDS OF EUCLID CREEK; ASSISTING THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY TO EXPAND TWO DIFFERENT PRESERVES; AND LASTLY - WEST CREEK WAS A KEY CONVENER WORKING ACROSS CUYAHOGA AND LAKE COUNTIES TO LEVERAGE A 130M GRANT TO NOT ONLY INITIATE A SOLAR FIELD PROJECT THAT WILL PRODUCE MORE THAN 60 MEGAWATTS OF POWER REPLACING A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT, BUT CONSERVE NEARLY 800 ACRES OF LAND IN THE PROCESS, WHILE ACTIVATING A ONE AND HALF MILE STRETCH OF THE GRAND RIVER AND NEARLY TWO-MILE REACH OF LAKE ERIE COASTLINE IN 2024 ALONE, WE HAD OVER 5.5M IN STREAM AND WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS ON THE GROUND IN 5 COUNTIES. THESE PROJECTS MAY APPEAR DISCONNECTED, BUT BY APPLYING A STRATEGIC WATERSHED APPROACH, THESE CORRIDORS BECOME CONNECTED OR OTHERWISE PART OF A LARGER INITIATIVE. WITH RESPECT TO OUR CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT PURSUE PROJECTS BASED SOLELY ON A THRESHOLD OF ACREAGE OR OTHER FIXED MEASURABLES BUT RATHER A MYRIAD OF FACTORS THAT CREATE THE MISSION-CENTRIC FOCUS OF OUR WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEREAS 300+ ACRES OF HIGH-QUALITY WETLAND IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH OF AN ECOSYSTEM OR WATERSHED, A 5-ACRE PARCEL IN AN URBAN AREA IS EQUALLY VALUABLE BY CONNECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO GREEN SPACES ON A DAILY BASIS. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE ORGANIZATION TAKES A HEADWATERS-TO-CONFLUENCE APPROACH IN CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION. IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE ALSO LEVERAGING OUR RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO AMPLIFY OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE PROVIDED A HOMEBASE FOR THE FOOTPATH FOUNDATION, A SPECIAL PLACE THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES THEM WITH CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE (OFFICE/HEADQUARTERS) BUT ALSO A PLACE FOR THEM TO IMPLEMENT THEIR MISSION, WHICH IS CENTERED AROUND ENGAGING YOUTH IN NATURAL PLACES AND SPACES. WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO HOST AND PARTNER WITH SPICE FIELD KITCHEN (SPICE) ON ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE PRESERVES, WHERE SPICE CAN IMPLEMENT THEIR MISSION OF "REVOLUTIONARY FOOD ENGAGEMENT" FOCUSED ON TEACHING YOUTHS WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM. ALONG THE CUYAHOGA RIVER, IN THE INDUSTRIAL HEARTLAND OF CLEVELAND, WE HAVE ACQUIRED AND RESTORED A PROPERTY THAT SERVES AS THE HOMEBASE FOR THE SPARTAN ALUMNI ROWING FOUNDATION, SO THAT THEY TOO HAVE A PLACE TO IMPLEMENT THEIR COMMUNITY MISSION. THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF WEST CREEK LEVERAGING ITS OWN EXPERTISE IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OTHERS HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. LASTLY, WE WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT MENTION THE GROWTH (PUN INTENDED) OF OUR NATIVE PLANT, TREE, AND SEED NURSERY, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF PARMA. ONCE FALLOW LAND IS NOW A THRIVING CENTRIFUGE OF ENGAGEMENT AND PROPAGATION. THIS SITE MAY ONLY BE A COUPLE ACRES, BUT IT HAS BEEN A BEACON OF ACTIVITY, ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS (WHO PUT IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS), ACTING AS A CLASSROOM FOR AREA STUDENTS, AND PROVIDING A PLACE OF STUDY FOR OUR PARTNERS ANALYZING ECOLOGICAL PRACTICES, IN ADDITION TO PROPAGATING THOUSANDS OF TREES/PLANTS THAT ARE BEING PLANTED THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. THE 'SEED LIBRARY' PROGRAM WITHIN THIS SITE HAS QUICKLY GAINED MOMENTUM TO THE POINT WHERE CAPACITY IS OUTSTRIPPED BY DEMAND. THIS PROPERTY HAS BECOME A PLACE OF COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS THROUGH ORGANIC ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING SPICE FIELD KITCHEN WEST CREEK'S ENTERING ITS 28TH YEAR OF PROTECTING/RESTORING THESE AMAZING PLACES AND WE ARE PROUD THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS OF 'MAKING NATURE YOUR NEIGHBOR'. WHERE CAPACITY ONCE LIMITED US TO THE WEST CREEK VALLEY, WE ARE HUMBLED THAT WE CAN NOW SERVE CONSTITUENTS IN OVER A DOZEN COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST OHIO AND BEYOND (INCLUDING THE LAKE ERIE AND OHIO RIVER WATERSHEDS). WE INVITE YOU TO HELP WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY CONTINUE WITH ITS MISSION. WE ARE PROUD OF THE VAST NETWORK OF PARTNERS THAT WE GET TO WORK WITH AND THE FACT THAT OUR WORK HAS A GENERATIONAL IMPACT - AND YOU TOO, CAN BE A PART OF THAT LEGACY. THROUGH DIRECT FINANCIAL GIFTS, ATTENDING MEETINGS, HIKES, TOURS, EVENTS, CONSERVING YOUR LAND, OR VOLUNTEERISM - THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT WEST CREEK A GIFT NOW MAKES A LASTING DIFFERENCE.
  Expenses $11,993,485 · revenue $4,604,263

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

34-1859064

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

2000

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Environment (C320)

Assets (IRS master file)

$7,845,548

Income (IRS master file)

$14,017,772

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 34-1859064).

Questions about WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY

What is the EIN of WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY?

The employer identification number (EIN) of WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY is 34-1859064.

Is WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2000.

Are donations to WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names DEREK C SCHAFER.

Who are the officers and directors of WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 20 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $106,710 (DEREK C SCHAFER, EXECUTIVE DI).

How much revenue does WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $13,886,400, expenses of $12,681,900 and total assets of $7,845,548 at year end.

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